The Mariner's Revenge Song
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Mariner's Revenge Song" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song by The Decemberists | ||
| from the album Picaresque (album) | ||
| Released | March 22, 2005 (US) | |
| Recorded | August 2004–September 2004 | |
| Genre | Indie Rock | |
| Length | 8:45 | |
| Label | Kill Rock Stars | |
| Producer(s) | The Decemberists, Christopher Walla | |
| Picaresque (album) track listing | ||
| On the Bus Mall (9) |
"Mariner's Revenge Song" (10) |
Of Angels and Angles (11) |
"The Mariner's Revenge Song" is a track by The Decemberists from their Picaresque album. The song describes a story of revenge, alluding to the classic novel Moby Dick.
The story begins as the narrator, who is one of two survivors stranded in the belly of a whale, explains to his companion how (unknown to him) their lives were interwoven.
The narrator explains how when he was three his widow mother fell in love with a roustabout (his companion), who was charming at first but was later revealed as a gambler and womaniser. The roustabout then disappeared, leaving only his gambling debts and the mother sick with consumption. The magistrate repossessed their estate to pay for the debts and the mother later died, leaving the boy an orphan. On her deathbed she asked the boy to avenge her death.
Fifteen years later the boy hears of a whaler captain who matches the roustabout's description. The next day he joins a privateer ship to hunt him down. After 20 months at sea they spot the whaling ship, but just before boarding a giant whale attacks the ships and kills all but the two people in the story who survived.
Out of their entire catalogue, this song has become the most in demand at live performances. It had been played at virtually every live show as an encore since its release up until the 2006 tour. To the disappointment of fans everywhere, the band has sworn off playing it at nearly all of the shows thus far on their 2006 tour, saying that they are giving it a break for awhile. This has led to speculation that the song is becoming The Decemberists' Stairway to Heaven.
On March 21, during their "Twilight in the Fearful Forest Tour 2007" at The Landmark Lowes Theater in Jersey City, New Jersey, the song was "revived" and brought back from retirement. It is unknown if this is a permanent revival, but Colin Meloy announced it was for all the people who never experienced the song live.
